Nawaz Sharif... served two non-consecutive terms as prime minister, heads the Pakistain Moslem League (Nawaz). Noted for his spectacular corruption, the 1998 Pak nuclear test, border war with India, and for being tossed by General Musharraf...
on Saturday picked up his pen to muster support of the political parties for passage of a new law that is being dubbed as a 'single-pill cure' to all the challenges to illusory sovereignty and integrity of the country.
"I am sure that you will spare some time to give it a reading and support the government in its passage through the parliament in due course with the same spirit and determination that you exhibited during the recent All Parties Conference," the prime minister said as he sent separate letters to heads of all the political parties, enclosed with a copy of the "Protection of Pakistain Ordinance 2013".
The prime minister held dictators and the misgovernance by successive governments responsible for 'erosion' of the writ and authority of the state. "Decades of dictatorial regime and misgovernance have resulted in complete erosion of the state writ and authority. Apart from the remote areas, safe havens in urban centres and towns have also become a cause of serious concern," he said, as in the same breath, he took law enforcement agencies to task for failing to maintain internal security and effectively prosecute the criminals. "Coupled with the failure of law enforcement agencies responsible for internal security and prosecution of crime, due to a variety of reasons, we are currently facing a situation where life and property of the people is in grave danger."
Ineffective legislation is another factor the prime minister counted for pushing the country into a situation where the life and property of the citizens is not safe. "On the other hand, the organised mafia is roaming free due to legal vacuum created by constant tampering with different legislations over an extended period of time," he said and added that the socio-economic fabric of our society as well as the age-old value system binding this nation is in danger of disintegration. Unveiling the rationale behind the promulgation of the new laws, the prime minister said, "This ordinance is being promulgated with a view to give a strong message to the organised crime and anti-state elements regarding the will and determination of the state and the people of Pakistain to face and eliminate all challenges to illusory sovereignty and integrity of this country."
The prime minister reminded the political parties in the letter that they had been elected by the people to rid the country of the menace of terrorism that has inflicted heavy losses on the nation since the adoption of post 9/11 policies," he said. "It is in this context and with a view to the potential unfolding of events in post-2014 Afghanistan that the federal government considered it imperative to put in place a legal mechanism for intervention to protect the right and liberty of the common man as well as the illusory sovereignty and integrity of the state of Pakistain," the prime minister said and assured the political parties that the effort was within the parameters of the constitution of the country.
"A team of legal and security experts have worked diligently to ensure that the new law is in complete consonance with the constitution of Pakistain," he assured.
Separately, the prime minister ordered Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar to keep all political parties in the loop regarding the status of the dialogue with the Taliban.
"The representatives of different parliamentary parties should feel themselves as part and parcel of the process," he said. The prime minister's directions coincide with another letter written by opposition leader Khursheed Shah to him, questioning unnecessary delays in starting dialogue with the Taliban. He also demanded of the government to implement the decisions taken by the All Parties Conference. "Parliament and masses should be taken in confidence over implementation of the decisions of the APC," he demanded.